“The task of determining whether there was no substantial miscarriage of justice is undertaken on the whole of the record of the trial, including the fact that the jury returned a guilty verdict,’’ Justice Henry said in the decision.

“This was not a weak or only moderately strong prosecution case ... the circumstantial case that the appellant (Reed) inflicted – the backside bruising (AOBH) and the fatal internal abdominal injuries (murder) – was compelling.

“The case that the appellant (Reed) must have unlawfully assaulted (Mason), thereby doing him bodily harm, was strong.”

The Court of Appeal also rejected suggestions the toddler’s injuries were caused by a collision with the family dog or CPR.

Justice Henry said Reed was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt and there was no substantial miscarriage of justice caused by the trial judge’s directions regarding the previous, non-fatal injuries to Mason.

Reed’s appeal was dismissed on the same day the Townsville Bulletin revealed Northern Coroner Jane Bentley had reopened baby Mason’s case.

The Sandemans wrote to Ms Bentley’s office requesting an investigation into the days leading up to Mason’s death.

During Reed’s trial, the court heard staff at Mason’s childcare centre photographed injuries on the little boy’s body but centre managers failed to report those concerns to authorities.

The couple are pushing for childcare workers to be made mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse.

THEIR days on the court may be over but former Townsville Fire players Aneka Davis, Cherie Gallagher and Julia Duroux will be cheering from the sideline when the team takes on Bendigo in the grand final.